Miss San Bernardino County Teen 2015!!

AHHH! I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I was just crowned Miss San Bernardino County Teen USA 2015! I've been a huge fan of pageants all my life and have been watching Miss USA pageants ever since I was a little girl. My grandmother always joked about how I would pretend to strut across her living room as a child and pretend that I was being crowned. However, it was always a dream for me and something that I never thought that I could accomplish. I was always extremely shy as a kid and had very low self confidence and esteem after I was bullied in middle school. My mom and grandmother knew how important pageants were to me, and they always tried to convince me to join, but I always refused and came up with an excuse. It all changed last year when I was watching the Miss Universe pageant and I found myself having a longing to be like one of those girls. I was tired of just watching other people achieve their dreams and goals, so I decided at that moment that I was going to join a pageant and I made myself make a promise to not back out of it.

In February 2015, I attended the Miss Los Angeles County pageant. I was excited yet nervous, but the idea did not really hit me until I was standing backstage. All of a sudden, I got really nauseous and was so close to telling the backstage directors that I wanted to quit. A voice inside my head told me to stop overreacting, and before I knew it, I found myself walking onto the stage. As I walked on stage, my nerves loosened and I was no longer afraid. I did not win, but I received the title of Miss Congeniality and I was beyond happy and proud of myself for doing something that always seemed impossible. 

As summer came around, I decided to try again because I had truly enjoyed my first pageant experience and had met some amazing girls that I still talk to to this day. I signed up for the Miss San Bernardino County pageant, and things moved fairly fast. We had our meeting and rehearsal, and pretty soon, the pageant came around. I was still a little nervous, but definitely a lot better compared to the first time since I kind of knew what to expect. Walking on that stage, I gave it my all and simply just wanted the judges to be able to see who I was. I had practiced a lot for that moment, from learning how to walk to learning how to talk. There would be nights where I would be walking in the living room at 3 in the morning, trying to break into my 6 inch heels and training myself to become a better speaker. As they called my name at the crowning moment, I was shocked and overwhelmed. It was truly a dream come true to be able to accomplish something that I have been dreaming about for so long. I'm going to be heading off to Miss California later this year, competing alongside 80 plus girls! I cannot wait to walk the Miss CA stage and represent San Bernardino County. It's just the beginning and I know that there's a long journey out ahead of me, but I'm excited to see what the future has in store. 

Biggest thanks to my family, coaches, and sponsors for always believing in me! I promise that I will make you guys proud. 

xoxo, 

Kaitlyn 

I hope you enjoy a spam of pics from the pageant! They're not all the same size which kind of bugs me, but some were just impossible to crop so I just gave up. Hope you guys like it!! (: 

Woke up at 7 AM for hair and makeup! Thank you J for always doing the best makeup for all my events, whether its pageants or dances! 

Just got out of hair & makeup. Packing up to leave for the pageant! 

Waiting backstage after rehearsals ((-: 

A picture that was taken just a few minutes after I was crowned! My dad had to zoom in a lot so it's pretty blurry HAHA

Miss San Bernardino County Teen USA 2015

With my amazing family, who has helped me through everything! Beyond thankful for them and for all the love and support that they've given me.  

First selfie with the crown

Crown & sash